260 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



essential in very dense cane-brakes. They can get under 

 the cane and pinch a Bear so tight that it is forced to tree 

 or bay. 



With such a pack, and one reliable start-dog, the young 

 Bear-hunter can yet find good sport in Coahoma and Boli- 

 var Counties, Mississippi, Ashley County, Arkansas, and 

 along the White and St. Francis Rivers. A few Bears are 

 yet to be found along the Ouachita, Red, Trinity, and 

 Brazos Rivers. Occasionally a Bear is found crossing the 

 dividing ridges between these rivers. Sometimes the Texas 

 cowboy has the pleasure of roping one, crossing a prairie 

 from one river bottom to another. 



Last summer I discovered the tracks of an old she-Bear 

 and her two cubs, that had been fishing in a lake in the Red 

 River 'bottom, in Red River Parish. Several years have 

 passed since any were seen in that parish before, and 

 undoubtedly these wandered from the Sabine River, in 

 Texas, across the hills to Red River. 



In regard to still-hunting the Black Bear, having tested 

 both modes of hunting, I can only give my own experience. 

 Right here I would say, that it would be at this time a rare 

 accident for a still -hunter to find a Bear in our southern 

 country, in this way, except in overflows. 



In early times, when Bears were numerous, the still- 

 hunter could watch certain places where the Bears crossed 

 from one thicket or cane-brake to another — it being their 

 habit, like Deer, to use the same points at which to cross — 

 and get a shot some time during the day. Again, he might 

 find a "stepping-place," which I will later describe, and 

 get a shot. Or he might succeed in stalking one while feed- 

 ing on the pecan-mast, or water-oak acorns. Should he 

 desire only to kill a Bear ravaging the corn-fields in the 

 roasting-ear stage, by watching the gap where they crossed 

 the fence, the chances for a shot would be good. At that 

 season the Bears are too poor to be eaten. Though this is 

 interesting, yet it is only cold-blooded assassination. 



How can it compare with the fierce baying of a noble 

 pack of dogs, the angry growls of the enraged Bear, with 



